Today’s Steals and Deals at AAR…..
This Stuart is still very sexy but has a lighter feel than many of her works. In our review, our reviewer said:
This story is a departure from Ms. Stuart’s previous works. The hero was not as tortured, and there was almost a light-hearted tone throughout the story. Maybe the term would be dim, not dark, but not truly light either.
Nicholas Strangefellow is not what he seems. The King’s Fool is anything but, and his surname certainly suits him. Nicholas prides himself on driving those around him crazy with his antics, rhyming, sleight of hand, and double entendres. All of these mask his ambitions to regain that which was lost to him. When ordered to retrieve the Chalice of St. Hugelina the Dragon, Nicholas is one step closer to achieving his goal. Plus, Nicholas is always on the look out for a new lady friend with whom to dally.
Lady Julianna of Moncrieff is not mourning her much older deceased husband, Victor. She is mourning the fact that she must join her estranged mother, Isabeau, at Fortham Castle. Julianna has no claim on Moncrieff, since Victor has a grown son. Julianna’s marriage was agonizing and she is hoping to join a nunnery. Julianna was only 11 when she began her marriage, and has never forgiven her mother for allowing her father to barter her away to the lecherous and ancient Victor.
Nicholas and Julianna meet on the voyage to Fortham Castle, the location of the Chalice. Nicholas wastes no time in starting his campaign to seduce and torment Julianna. Julianna delivers a few snappy comebacks of her own, however.
It’s on sale for 0.99 here.
We love this one by Rowell. In her DIK review, our reviewer wrote:
Rainbow Rowell has been sitting near the top of my “Authors I Need to Try Out” List for a while. I’ve heard very good things about her books (in spite of the fact that they only number three at present), and so when I saw that the eBook copy of Attachments was available from my library, I jumped at the chance to try out this new author. I am so, so glad I did.
For me, reading Attachments was an experience unlike that of reading any other book, due in a large part to the way it is set up. It’s the story of one man, Lincoln O’Neill. He works as a sort of IT guy at a newspaper, The Courier. Specifically, his job is to make sure that none of the newspaper staff use their work email for personal business. In order to do this, Lincoln has to read people’s mail. This makes him rather uncomfortable, but as he doesn’t have any other job at the moment, Lincoln does as he’s told.
Two of the people who seem to be flagged frequently (Lincoln only reads emails that are flagged as being likely to contain personal business) are Jennifer Scribner-Snyder and Beth Fremont. Although he apparently sent them a warning once, before the book began, they continue to chat with each other over email. In the beginning of the book Lincoln seems to intend to chastise them again, but it isn’t long before he acknowledges that he likes them too much to do that. However, Lincoln does continue to read their emails, even knowing that he won’t do anything about their contents.
I won’t lie—this premise made me fairly uncomfortable. I send out emails and other messages every day, and I know I’d be more than a little unnerved to realize someone else could read them. That said, Beth and Jen are aware that there is a mysterious person monitoring emails at The Courier, so it’s not quite the same situation. Also, their conversations are funny and very enjoyable, so I understand 100% why Lincoln didn’t want to give them up.
It’s on sale for 1.99 here.
Melody Thomas is another historical romance writer I miss. Her settings are interesting, her love stories sexy, and her leads well-written. This one is on sale today! In our review, our reviewer wrote:
Cassandra Sheridan is an American heiress betrothed to a duke’s heir who is reputed to be – and I don’t think this will come as much of a surprise to most AAR readers – a wastrel and a scoundrel. When Devlyn St. Clair, the Earl of Hampstead, fails to show for their betrothal party, Cassie decides that the only way she can truly “experience life” will be to run away from her family and travel by coach to Scotland to visit a close friend she hasn’t seen since her betrothal.
On the way she meets an arrogant man dressed in homespun clothes who – you’ll never guess – is really Devlyn. And you’ll also never guess that Devlyn really isn’t a wastrel and a scoundrel but is actually employed as some kind of government secret agent trying to bust up what seems to be an early version of the Russian mafia.
Refreshingly enough, Devlyn and Cassie figure out quite promptly just who the other is. Soon enough they’re traveling together when it’s clear that danger to Devlyn also means danger to Cassie. Along the way, sparks fly.
It’s on sale for 0.99 here.
This winner by Ashford got a DIK from us. In our review we wrote:
James Cantrell has inherited a dukedom, only to discover a mess. His great-uncle, the late duke, had some kind of madness and left his home in a shambles, filling it with garbage without any rhyme or reason. Horrified by the debris and overcome by the enormity of his new responsibilities, James has a brilliant idea: he’ll marry the right kind of woman, one who can sort out the mess without him having to overextend himself. Fortunately, he knows just the one.
Lady Cecelia is the woman James has singled out to be his duchess. They have been acquainted for years, as she is the daughter of his former guardian. Cecelia is supremely competent, not only does she manage her father’s household, but his holdings and estate as well. Before James’ majority, he and Cecelia butted heads about estate matters and had any number of arguments. Still, James knows Cecelia is the one to handle the disaster that has fallen into his lap. So, he straightforwardly proposes a marriage of convenience, only to be shot down when Cecelia refuses.
Cecelia is unwed at twenty-three because she does not want a marriage without love. Though she hasn’t been any great social success, she is still considered decently marriageable, despite her age. Despite loving James, she won’t enter a marriage such as he describes, and James is forced to rethink his strategy if he truly desires to wed her. Complicating matters, a German princeling makes a splash in the ton, giving James a run for his money and trying to capture Cecelia’s attention. When the rivalry between the two men heats up, controversy and gossip follow, leaving polite society to wonder who Cecelia will choose.
It’s on sale for 1.99 here.